give someone the runaround

Meaning: To put someone off with excuses instead of a straight answer.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Example: “The insurance company gave us the runaround for weeks.”

Category: Daily Life

Origin: The person is sent running from one place to another and gets nowhere. American slang from the early 20th century.

Other ways to say this

French: Noyer le poisson — literally: To drown the fish
Japanese: お茶を濁す (ocha o nigosu) — literally: To muddy the tea
Russian: Заговаривать зубы (Zagovarivat' zuby) — literally: To talk someone's teeth away
Greek: Άλλα λόγια ν' αγαπιόμαστε — literally: Other words so we may love each other
English: muddy the waters

pin the blame on someone — To make someone take responsibility for a fault, often unfairly.
a closed book — Something one knows nothing about, or someone impossible to understand.
a trump card — A decisive advantage kept in reserve.
hide one's light under a bushel — To keep one's talents hidden.
charity begins at home — One's first duty is to one's own family.
a load of nonsense — Something completely untrue or silly.

let the grass grow under one's feet — To waste time and miss opportunities.
go through fire and water — To face any danger or hardship for someone or something.
up to one's ears in debt — Deeply in debt.
hand on heart — Said when swearing that something is completely true.
you'll live — Said to someone making a fuss over a small injury or setback.
with an iron fist — With harsh, absolute control.

First deserve and then desire. — Merit earned precedes rightful ambition; establish capability before claiming reward.
Desires are nourished by delays. — Postponing what you want intensifies your craving rather than diminishing it.
Give the devil his due. — Acknowledge even your adversary's legitimate accomplishments or valid points, regardless…